pain m
SN instructed patient and caregiver on som
e m
easures aim
ed to controlling/m
anaging constipation, such as: establish regular tim
es for evacuations usually after a m
eal and drink a warm
liquid one-half hour before breakfast to stim
ulate bowel m
ovem
ent, avoid laxative and enem
a abuse. Instructed on som
e potential com
plications of constipation, such as: stool im
paction bowel blockage, liquid bowel m
ovem
ent m
ay ooze around hard stool in the colon, pain
, valsalva m
aneuver m
ay be caused by straining, causing a slowed pulse, decreased blood return and increased venous pressure, rectal bleeding and rectal pain
.
SN assessed portacath insertion site every visit. SN instructed s/sx to report to SN / M
D such as redness, pain
, puffiness around port, drainage from
insertion site, tem
perature above 100 degrees, shortness of breath and chest pain
. Sn instructed on portacath care and protection of the skin over the port.
Patient instructed Protonix (pantoprazole) is a proton pum
p inhibitor that decreases the am
ount of acid produced in the stom
ach. Take once daily in the m
orning with or without food. Com
m
on Protonix side effects m
ay include: headache, dizziness; stom
ach pain
, gas, nausea, vom
iting, diarrhea; joint pain
; or fever, rash, or cold sym
ptom
s. Instructed to notify prescriber if unusual or bothersom
e side effects occur or m
edication is not effective.
Instructed patient on new m
edication Sulindac. Sulindac is a nonsteroidal anti-inflam
m
atory drug (NSAID). Sulindac works by reducing horm
ones that cause inflam
m
ation and pain
in the body. Sulindac is used to treat pain
or inflam
m
ation caused by arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, tendinitis, bursitis, or gout. Patient verbalized understanding.
Instructed patient when should I call m
y healthcare provider. Contact your healthcare provider or physician im
m
ediately if you have an irregular heart rate. If you feel increased pain
or discom
fort. It is norm
al to feel som
e pain
and discom
fort for about a week after the tracheostom
y procedure. If you have difficulty breathing and it is not relieved by your usual m
ethod of clearing secretions. When secretions becom
e thick, if crusting occurs or m
ucus plugs are present. Your physician m
ay recom
m
end increasing your fluids or using cool m
ist hum
idification.
SN instructed patient and caregiver on SIM
VASTATIN. Sim
vastatin is a cholesterol-lowering m
edicine. It inhibits the production of cholesterol by the liver. High blood cholesterol is first treated with exercise, weight loss, and a diet low in cholesterol and saturated fats. When these m
easures fail, cholesterol-lowering m
edications such as Sim
vastatin can be added. Sim
vastatin is generally well-tolerated and side effects are rare. M
inor side effects of Sim
vastatin include constipation, diarrhea, fatigue, gas, heartburn, and headache. M
ajor side effects of Sim
vastatin include abdom
inal pain
or cram
ps, blurred vision, dizziness, easy bruising or bleeding, itching, m
uscle pain
or cram
ps, rash, and yellowing of the skin or eyes.
SN educated patient and caregiver on Lidocaine patches. These patches are used to relieve the pain
of post-herpetic neuralgia (PHN; the burning, stabbing pain
s, or aches that m
ay last for m
onths or years after a shingles infection). It works by stopping nerves from
sending pain
signals. To apply the patches, follow these steps: 1. Look at the skin that you plan to cover with a lidocaine patch. If the skin is broken or blistered, do not apply a patch to that area. 2. Use scissors to rem
ove the outer seal from
the package. Then pull apart the zipper seal. 3. Rem
ove up to three patches from
the package and press the zipper seal tightly together. The rem
aining patches m
ay dry out if the zipper seal is not tightly closed. 4. Cut patch(es) to the size and shape that will cover your m
ost pain
ful area. 5. Peel the transparent liner off the back of the patch(es). 6. Press the patch(es) firm
ly onto your skin. If you are applying a patch to your face, be careful not to let it touch your eyes. If you do get lidocaine in your eye, wash it with plenty of water or saline solution. 7. Wash your hands after handling lidocaine patches. 8. Do not reuse lidocaine patches.
SN instructed patient on s/s of prostate cancer. While m
ost prostate cancer does not cause any sym
ptom
s at all, the sym
ptom
s and signs of prostate cancer m
ay include: frequent urination, weak or interrupted urine flow or the need to strain to em
pty the bladder, the urge to urinate frequently at night, blood in the urine, new onset of erectile dysfunction, pain
or burning during urination, which is m
uch less com
m
on and discom
fort or pain
when sitting, caused by an enlarged prostate.
SN instructed patient to keep pre-filled syringes at room
tem
perature. SN instructed/dem
onstrated patient / caregiver on proper adm
inistration of Lovenox. SN inform
ed that the m
ost com
m
on side effect associated with Lovenox is bleeding. Patient was instructed to call Physician (M
D) they experience any increased pain
signs or sym
ptom
s of excessive bleeding/bruising. SN Inform
ed that m
ild localized irritation, pain
, hem
atom
a, ecchym
osis m
ay occur at the site of injection.
Instructed patient on m
edication Am
iodarone. This m
edication is used to stabilize the rhythm
of your heart. Am
iodarone is used to treat ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation. Take this m
edication at the sam
e tim
e daily as directed. M
ay take with or without food. Avoid grapefruit, St. John's wort, & sunlight or tanning beds. com
m
on side effects include: nausea, vom
iting, loss of appetite; or constipation. Call your doctor or get m
edical help at once if you have: chest pain
, fast or pounding heartbeats, trouble breathing, vision problem
s, upper stom
ach pain
, vom
iting, dark urine, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes), or if you cough up blood. Tell your doctor if you have signs of a thyroid problem
, such as weight changes, extrem
e tiredness, dry skin, thinning hair, feeling too hot or too cold, irregular m
enstrual periods, or swelling in your neck (goiter).